– Infographic: Time to Share The College Savings Secret
– Article Round-Up
– Data & Research: Survey Stats on the Go
– 529 Conference 2017 Update
– ABLE Act Column

529 Dash, Required Reading for Your 529 Education: The goal of the 529 Dash is to address the specific needs and concerns of advisers, accountants and estate planners who sell and service families and institutions in the college financial planning process by providing industry relevant news, product training and best practices. Building upon the product training and trends will be our editorial insight, market data and research. Also, the 529 Dash will provide opportunities for you to learn from and network with your peers based on real life case studies and forums such as the Strategic Insight 529 Dash LinkedIn Group. By reviewing these success stories on college financial planning from your peers of advisers, accountants and estate planners, the barriers to supporting your clients and building your book of business will be reduced.

Please Read, Engage and Share.

Paul Curley, CFA
Editor-in-Chief of 529 Dash
Director of College Savings Research
paul.curley@strategic-i.com
Twitter: @PaulCurleyBC
LinkedIn: Strategic Insight 529 Dash LinkedIn Group

It is increasingly difficult for students and their families to bear the costs of college, so advisers, accountants and estate planners need to bridge the knowledge gap and make it easy to invest. By raising awareness of 529 plans and educating investors, you can solve for a growing client need while also building and protecting your book of business.

Here is what you need to know from stories released this week.

– New York Times, “Want to Help Pay for a Child’s College? Grab a Gift Card.” Editor’s Take: The ability to provide financial gifts this holiday season is set to rise to meet demand.
– Palo Alto Estate Planning Blog by Liza Hanks, Estate Planner, “It’s fall: Custodial accounts, 529 plans and paying for college.” Editor’s Take: Tips on college financial planning with custodial accounts and grandparent and other third-party assets. Also, the article shows how college financial planning can be used to gain business for estate planners and advisers.
– Bankers Anonymous, “529 accounts for grandparents.” Editor’s Take: Timely article that pivots Pixar’s movie “Cars” into a story on investments. Read my 529 Primer article here.

Here is what you need to know from data and research released this week.

– $9,100 is the average student loan debt level across all families, in comparison to $59,500 in home mortgages.
– 14.36% reduction in FAFSA impact by moving assets held in custodial accounts to custodial 529 accounts.

The 529 Conference 2017 will take place from September 11-13, 2017 at the JW Marriott Grande Lakes in Orlando. Updates to the agenda will be announced in this section below. In the meantime, please save the date.

– Download the 529 Conference 2016 App for the slides from the event.

– Oswego County Today, “New 529 ABLE savings accounts will help individuals with disabilities.” Editor’s Take: New York is expected to launch an ABLE program by the end of the year, and our 529 Essentials primer article on the accounts can be found here.

List of Open ABLE Programs:
– ABLE TN (Sold Nationally)
– Florida ABLE United Program (Currently, Florida Residents Only)
– Nebraska Enable Savings Program (Sold Nationally)
– Ohio STABLE Program (Sold Nationally)

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